Sunday, May 17, 2009

I Know You Were Expecting Mighty O's...

Has it really been almost two months since I last posted? I didn't mean to drop off the face of blogworld, but it has been an emotionally challenging past few weeks and I really needed some time away. I am trying this weekend to catch up all of your blog posts, and can't wait to see what everyone has been up to!
It feels like forever ago that I was promising yall photos of all the Mighty O's I was going to consume in Seattle. Unfortunately, that trip didn't happen, but I wasn't about to go without donuts! So I used Vegan YumYum's recipe to make these baked donuts with chocolate glaze and vegan sprinkles. A suitable substitute until I can get back up to Seattle.

To celebrate Earth Day our local vegan group organized a potluck picnic, which always means lots of great food to sample! Since we were minus a kitchen at my place (we were getting wood floors installed throughout the house), I went with a simple but classic picnic favorite... potato salad! My favorite recipe lately has been the one from Skinny Bitch in the Kitch, but I just spotted an avocado potato salad in the new Vegan Brunch book that I'm excited to try.

Did I mention I visited NYC for a long weekend as well? Despite the rainy weather, John and I walked up and down Manhattan Island in search of good vegan (for me) and Italian (for him) food, while seeing some of the sights along the way. One of the coolest things we saw was on Ellis Island, where John's grandparents had their names engraved on the immigrant wall... a piece of family history! So I know you're waiting now for food pics, but I didn't take any! So instead you get a photo of me on the Brooklyn Bridge....

Okay, so maybe I took one or two food photos, here is a spelt chocolate cupcake from Babycakes! I also picked up their new cookbook, and am excited to try some of their recipes in my own kitchen. In addition to Babycakes, this was the food line-up: fauz meat dinner at Red Bamboo, pizza in Little Italy, fancy dinner at Candle 79, and brunch at Counter. I desperately wanted to make it to Lulu's for ice cream but ran out of time. Gives me yet another reason to return.

And check out the goodies I got in the mail this week...

Amey sent me homemade cookies! From the top down they are maple walnut, chocolate cherry almond (my favorite of the three), and chocolate chip. Thanks so much Amey for sweetening up my week; these cookies put a big smile on my face.

No plans to be disappearing again. I have a shoe and book review to post soon!

32 comments:

bazu said...

Hey! I totally understand the blogging hiatus- I keep taking them myself. I hope you are ok now, since you mentioned a difficult few weeks. Everything in this post looks wonderful- sweets! Gifts! Donuts! NYC!

Anonymous said...

Glad you're back! and hope everything is looking up from here on in ♥ Those doughnuts looks DELICIOUS! xoxo

Sarah said...

Mmmm donuts *drools*

Animal-Friendly said...

Those are some great looking donuts- chocolate glazed with sprinkles....yum!

Ricki said...

Welcome back! And I think homemade donuts are better than any store-bought variety. :)

And homemade COOKIES are even better than the donuts!!

Ruthie said...

If it weren't for twitter I woulda thought you died. Well, and Stacey told me she had dinner with you. :-)

Next time you make donuts please don't tell me or I may start hanging out outside your door. I do know where you live. :-)

Amey said...

hoorah!
welcome back to bloggyland! Your homemade donuts look so perfect and yummy. I haven't done nearly enough vegan tourism... I haven't been to NYC since becoming a vegan - 9 years ago! My gosh.

Those chocolate cherry almond cookies are my favorites too...

xo!

Anonymous said...

welcome back!

Vicki's Vegan Vice said...

one word: BABYCAKES!!!!!

jd said...

It's good to have you back!

And don't worry, I'm no stranger to crazy-long blog absences either :)

Anyway, I hope things are going well for you now that the last few weeks have past. BTW, that trip to Ellis Island and seeing your husband's grandparents' names on the wall must have been really incredible...

Take care!

x said...

Your donuts look delish, as does the cupcakes from Babycakes.

I just got their book as well, I will be interested to hear your opinions because you've tasted them from the shop.

Catherine Weber said...

Those are some amazing-looking homemade doughnuts!

Jenni (aka Vegyogini) said...

Welcome back! I hope the emotional upheaval is over for you.

I love NYC and you hit 2 of my favorite places...Counter and Candle 79.

Tami said...

Nice to see you back. Life comes first, you know? Hope things settle down for you.

aTxVegn said...

Welcome back, Amanda! I just got Babycakes too and can't wait to try some of the recipes.

Sheree' said...

I am so glad you are back. I was getting ready to email you. I was worried. I hope all is ok. I have to ck out the skinny bitch cookbook from the library and try the potato salad. I love potato salad. DH is going to love those donuts! :O) Hugs!!!

Hannah said...

Hey, any vegan donuts are good enough for me! Just happy to see you posting again, really. :)

dreaminitvegan said...

Yay your back!!! Sorry you've been in a funk, hopefully this has passed and you can move on.
These donuts look to amazing! Looking forward to your upcoming posts.

Bianca said...

How sweet that Amey sent you cookies! And my, my I'm gonna have to check out Vegan Yum Yum's donut recipe...seriously. Sorry you've been going through emotionally challenging times. Hope everything is better now.

Theresa said...

A shoe review? Sounds enticing...

Those cookies and cuppers and donuts and picnic plates all look very good, and you look super cute on the Brooklyn Bridge. I hope your emotional challenges have chilled out a bit!

Vaala ◪ said...

It's so good to have you back! Hope you're okay :)
All the food looks delicious as usual.

Anonymous said...

I have had donuts on the brain lately - I need to check out that Veganyumyum recipe. I remember she had one up but it needed a mini-donut pan (whichh I don't have, and it's probably a good thing, because I'd eat them all the time!).
How nice that you got away to NY!

GF Gidget said...

Oh Babycakes, how I love thee! Let me count the ways! LE SIGH...

Anonymous said...

Glad you are back. The donuts look awesome.

Krys
twoveganboys

Lauren said...

Glad to see you back!! I've missed drooling over your yummy creations! :) Glad you had such wonderful meals in NY! Those donuts look outrageous!

A_and_N said...

how nice of your friend to send you cookies! the babycakes were my fav of the lot this time. they look fantastic :)

Anonymous said...

Welcome Back! Missed ur posts. Donuts look fab

Anonymous said...

Welcome Back! Missed ur posts. Donuts look fab

Krista said...

Your trip to NY and your Earth Day picnic sound wonderful...especially the avocado potato salad.

I hope all is ok with you, I really missed reading about your vegan life in Houston, my hometown. :)

Amy said...

It's good to see you back :) And yum! You make me want donuts and cookies!!!

urban vegan said...

I'm going to NYC tomorrow. Woo hoo.

All the food is amazing....esp Babycakes cuppers. How nice of Amey to send you cookies.

Melisser; the Urban Housewife said...

There you are! I was just about to email you & see if you were OK.
Homemade donuts, yum! I'm jealous of your NYC trip.